H.S. Boys Lacrosse: Glen Rock bands together to finish strong

By JIM JONES

SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS |

Glen Rock Gazette

Injuries and an arduous schedule teamed to thwart Glen Rock High School’s boys lacrosse team for a good part of the season, but the Panthers came together in the late going to win 3-of-4 after an 0-11 start. They snapped a 19-game losing streak dating to last year and finished this spring with a 3-14 record.

The season ended with a 10-9 overtime loss to heavily-favored Caldwell in the first round of the North Group 1 state tournament on May 16. Head coach Tim Bracken called it a solid effort by the Panthers. "We played well, came together and played to our potential," he said.

Bracken said toward season’s end, "the team got healthier and had no Bergen Catholics, Ridgewoods and Mountain Lakes to play." Earlier in the season, the Panthers dropped decisions to the Crusaders, Maroons and Lakers in a spell of rough Gibbs Division opponents.

In addition to injured players, for a good part of the season, Glen Rock did not have senior captain Jake McMahon, who collapsed on a soccer field last fall and had not been allowed to play this spring. But once he got the OK to join the team, it gave the Panthers a big boost.

"It was great to have him back," the coach said. "He seemed to be the glue to team that was missing. We scored a lot more goals, and the offense came together."

McMahon is one of six seniors the team will have to replace, and Bracken said all contributed a great deal. "Jake brought a special chemistry to the offense," he said.

The coach noted senior captain Jake Pellegrino was a player for whom every opponent had to plan and account. He said Luke Descalzi was a durable two-way player at midfield, while Pat Duff completed the attack with IQ and shooting efficiency.

"Matt Jorgensen’s passion for physical play and Thomas Grubb’s consistent toughness in goal will be missed," Bracken added. Jorgensen was also a captain.

Junior Corey Hillman was the team’s leading scorer with 25 goals and 15 assists. The coach calls him "a prolific offensive player."

Pellegrino, who missed several games at season’s end due to a stress fracture in his back, had nine goals and 10 assists. Junior Griffin Meyers scored nine goals and assisted on eight, McMahon tallied nine times and had nine assists in six games, Duff had 14 goals and two assists, and Descalzi 14 goals and one assist.

Jorgensen will graduate, but Bracken looks for the defense to be solid next year. He said: "Five of the top six long-sticks [close defenders and long-stick middies] are set to return. At close ‘D’, we bring back sophomores Tommy Pulzello and James Antolino and freshman Vinny Mascari. At LSM, junior Peter Tatigian, our ‘ball hawk,’ returns along with freshman Robert Ray.

"Jack Lorenz, JD Wilker and Andrew Farfalla are current juniors capable of cracking the starting lineup," Bracken continued. "They bring varsity experience to the squad. Current JV defenders sophomores Jack Weathers and Tyler Reed and freshman Luke Fisher will compete for time at varsity next season.

"Short-stick D-middies sophomore Ravi Rosen and juniors Noah Weinstock and Andrew Grochan are tough, athletic players that will return with valuable experience next season," he concluded.

Meyers returns for his fourth year on varsity and is a midfield presence on both offense and defense. Bracken said current sophomores Max Egermeyer, Eric Spada and Kevin Connor will return to the varsity to compete for starting positions at midfield.

He added that current freshmen Trevor Douenias, Tim Ray, Kevin Hargadon, Graham Reiss, Jimmy Moore, Matt Loscalzo and Lee Hasselmann are athletic and tough. "If their stick skills improve, they have an opportunity to earn time on varsity," he said.

Hillman returns on attack along with sophomore Eamon Morley. "Both have two years of varsity under their belts and are tough assignments for any defenseman," the coach said. "Replacing two senior attackmen won’t be easy, but current sophomore Matt Isaac and freshmen Will Connor and Peter Cassidy exhibit potential to contribute. Current junior Dylan Park is a crease attackman and steady performer that will add depth at attack."

Sophomore Michael Gallo returns in goal, as does junior John Vachon, who stepped into the cage for the first time this season to fill the vacancy at JV. "Despite limited experience, John proved to be an effective ball-stopper and developed good outlet-passing skills," the coach said.

Looking ahead, Bracken said, "We have a lot of good athletes on the field and return a good deal of experience. A firm commitment to strength-training, competing and mastering stick skills in the offseason will put this team in a position to be significantly improved in 2015."

Injuries and an arduous schedule teamed to thwart Glen Rock High School’s boys lacrosse team for a good part of the season, but the Panthers came together in the late going to win 3-of-4 after an 0-11 start. They snapped a 19-game losing streak dating to last year and finished this spring with a 3-14 record.

The season ended with a 10-9 overtime loss to heavily-favored Caldwell in the first round of the North Group 1 state tournament on May 16. Head coach Tim Bracken called it a solid effort by the Panthers. "We played well, came together and played to our potential," he said.

Bracken said toward season’s end, "the team got healthier and had no Bergen Catholics, Ridgewoods and Mountain Lakes to play." Earlier in the season, the Panthers dropped decisions to the Crusaders, Maroons and Lakers in a spell of rough Gibbs Division opponents.

In addition to injured players, for a good part of the season, Glen Rock did not have senior captain Jake McMahon, who collapsed on a soccer field last fall and had not been allowed to play this spring. But once he got the OK to join the team, it gave the Panthers a big boost.

"It was great to have him back," the coach said. "He seemed to be the glue to team that was missing. We scored a lot more goals, and the offense came together."

McMahon is one of six seniors the team will have to replace, and Bracken said all contributed a great deal. "Jake brought a special chemistry to the offense," he said.

The coach noted senior captain Jake Pellegrino was a player for whom every opponent had to plan and account. He said Luke Descalzi was a durable two-way player at midfield, while Pat Duff completed the attack with IQ and shooting efficiency.

"Matt Jorgensen’s passion for physical play and Thomas Grubb’s consistent toughness in goal will be missed," Bracken added. Jorgensen was also a captain.

Junior Corey Hillman was the team’s leading scorer with 25 goals and 15 assists. The coach calls him "a prolific offensive player."

Pellegrino, who missed several games at season’s end due to a stress fracture in his back, had nine goals and 10 assists. Junior Griffin Meyers scored nine goals and assisted on eight, McMahon tallied nine times and had nine assists in six games, Duff had 14 goals and two assists, and Descalzi 14 goals and one assist.

Jorgensen will graduate, but Bracken looks for the defense to be solid next year. He said: "Five of the top six long-sticks [close defenders and long-stick middies] are set to return. At close ‘D’, we bring back sophomores Tommy Pulzello and James Antolino and freshman Vinny Mascari. At LSM, junior Peter Tatigian, our ‘ball hawk,’ returns along with freshman Robert Ray.

"Jack Lorenz, JD Wilker and Andrew Farfalla are current juniors capable of cracking the starting lineup," Bracken continued. "They bring varsity experience to the squad. Current JV defenders sophomores Jack Weathers and Tyler Reed and freshman Luke Fisher will compete for time at varsity next season.

"Short-stick D-middies sophomore Ravi Rosen and juniors Noah Weinstock and Andrew Grochan are tough, athletic players that will return with valuable experience next season," he concluded.

Meyers returns for his fourth year on varsity and is a midfield presence on both offense and defense. Bracken said current sophomores Max Egermeyer, Eric Spada and Kevin Connor will return to the varsity to compete for starting positions at midfield.

He added that current freshmen Trevor Douenias, Tim Ray, Kevin Hargadon, Graham Reiss, Jimmy Moore, Matt Loscalzo and Lee Hasselmann are athletic and tough. "If their stick skills improve, they have an opportunity to earn time on varsity," he said.

Hillman returns on attack along with sophomore Eamon Morley. "Both have two years of varsity under their belts and are tough assignments for any defenseman," the coach said. "Replacing two senior attackmen won’t be easy, but current sophomore Matt Isaac and freshmen Will Connor and Peter Cassidy exhibit potential to contribute. Current junior Dylan Park is a crease attackman and steady performer that will add depth at attack."

Sophomore Michael Gallo returns in goal, as does junior John Vachon, who stepped into the cage for the first time this season to fill the vacancy at JV. "Despite limited experience, John proved to be an effective ball-stopper and developed good outlet-passing skills," the coach said.

Looking ahead, Bracken said, "We have a lot of good athletes on the field and return a good deal of experience. A firm commitment to strength-training, competing and mastering stick skills in the offseason will put this team in a position to be significantly improved in 2015."